Daringbadi: The residents of Tilori panchayat under this block in Kandhamal district don’t need to climb trees or trek higher areas to get mobile signal any more for they have a mobile tower they constructed using tube well pipes.
The facility provided by BSNL was inaugurated Friday 7pm.
Over 5,000 people of Tilori panchayat are cock-a-hoop after receiving uninterrupted BSNL mobile signal, and for receiving it for the first time in their lives.
Even after two decades since the introduction of mobile service in the state, the residents of Tilori panchayat had been facing trouble in getting mobile network. They do have mobile sets but could hardly use them due to poor signal.
The people of this panchayat had been taking the matter up with the BSNL, but to no avail until sarpanch Bishnu Charan Pradhan held a discussion with the district officials of BSNL.
Learning about the national mobile signal provider’s problem, Pradhan exchanged the idea of erecting a mobile tower using discarded tube well pipes with the officials and they said it could serve the purpose.
Pradhan then conferred with the villagers about his plan to which they readily agreed to part with their unused tube well pipes.
“The villagers voluntarily not just gave the rusted and unused tube well pipes they had but also offered their labour. Seeing their eagerness, I started the work on the tower with no further delay. After the tower was erected to the desired height, BSNL equipped it with necessary gadgets,” said Pradhan.
“Now we are happy as we are now able to talk to our friends and relatives as long as we wish. Youngsters are now using Facebook and WhatsApp seamlessly. Having a tower is no mean achievement for us,” some villagers observed.
We have the tower after spending only Rs 25,000, but the joy of having uninterrupted signal can never be measured in money, they added.
Pradhan thanked Kandhamal Collector Brunda D and Daringbadi block development officer (BDO) Bhaktabandhu Janarddan Dalei and all the district and Baliguda sub division level BSNL officials for their help and support in making the dream true.
PNN
